Theory
Upholds that public policy is the result of the struggle among groups with access to decision-makers.
Group Theory
A process available in some states by which a proposed law is put on the ballot by citizen petition for voter approval
Initiative
Requests or calls for action or inaction by the government on some matter by individuals, groups, or others.
Policy Demands
Proposals and actions to eliminate or severely reduce economic regulatory programs.
Deregulation
A policy that expresses desired values but has little if any material impact on people.
Symbolic Policy
Maintains that public policy is really the reflection of the values, preferences, and leadership of societal elites.
Elite Policy
A political subsystem comprising a government agency, congressional committees, and some interest groups that is resistant to external influences.
Iron Triangle
A policy’s societal consequences.
Policy Outcome
A policy that provides or denies tangible resources or substantive power to those at whom it is directed.
Material Policy
A policy that shifts resources such as money or power among broad groups of people, from the haves to the have-nots.
Redistributive Policy
Espouses that participants in policy formation are indeed rational actors pursuing their own self-interests
Rational-Choice Theory
The transmission of information to public officials by pressure group representatives hoping to influence government decisions.
Lobbying
Activity to secure what someone identifies as good or proper public policy.
Policy Advocacy
A purposive course of action or inaction followed by an actor or set of actors, such as an official, government agency, or legislature, in dealing with a problem or matter of concern.
Policy
A policy that specifies how government will handle some matter, such as the conduct of criminal trials.
Procedural Policy
Views public policy as a political system’s outputs (laws, rules, judicial decisions, etc.) in response to the inputs (demands and supports) arising from its environment.
Political Systems Theory
Organizations that nominate candidates, contest elections, and seek to gain control of the government.
Political Parties
The effort to systematically explain or account for the adoption of public policies.
Policy Study
A policy’s societal consequences.
Policy Outcome
The capacity of administrative officials to exercise choice on some topics because of authority delegated to them.
Discretion
Focuses on the legal and structural aspects of governmental institutions and how they affect public policy.
Institutionalism
A group that supports broad causes and goals that are of benefit to society generally—for example, Common Cause.
Public-Interest Group
Formal expressions or articulations of public policies in laws, administrative rules, and other documents.
Policy Statements
The transfer of government functions or property into private hands.
Privatization
Problems that have a broad effect, including consequences for persons not directly involved.
Policy Problem